Fergal Conway on song as Celbridge ease past Raheens

Celbridge 3-21

Raheens 0-11

Celbridge blew Raheens out of the water in the second game of the Joe Mallon Motors SFC (Preliminary Round) at Conneff Park in Clane on Saturday evening.

Celbridge had the game effectively wrapped up after 18 minutes, which will no doubt be a harsh lesson for this young Raheens team.

Celbridge relied heavily on the services of Aaron Browne during their league campaign and his absence through injury would have caused a worry before throw in, but a spread of 9 different scorers in the first half alone would have softened the blow.

Dean O’Donoghue got Celbridge off the mark in the first minute with a point from play which was followed up with a score from Liam O’Flynn.

Jack Taaffe opened Raheens’ account on 5 minutes before Kevin Flynn fisted over a point for Celbridge which was swiftly followed with a point from play for Davy Hughes.

Raheens kept in touch with points from Liam Power (mark) and Paddy Woodgate but Celbridge began to move through the gears and on 16 minutes Fergal Conway hit back of the net after Dean O’Donoghue ran through the Raheens defence.

Conway was on hand again two minutes later after Paddy Brophy called a mark and clevery played in the unmarked Conway for his second goal of the game.

The Hazelhatch boys continued to apply the pressure with points from Tony Archbold and a second for Dean O’Donoghue. Raheens responded with a free from Paddy Woodgate before

John Clarke made his way up from corner back to split the posts for Celbridge and on 25 minutes Paddy Brophy got on the end of the high ball and struck for Celbridge’s third goal of the game.

Paddy Woodgate pointed a free for Raheens before Kevin Flynn cleared the ball off the line denying Raheens a goal before half time.

In first half injury time Mick Konstantin scored the last point of the half which saw Celbridge leading by 3-13 to 0-5.
Paddy Woodgate kicked a free over via the post for the first score of the second half. The sides went point for point, but mid-way through the half the Raheens defence appeared to lose their discipline and Davy Hughes scored four frees in a row for Celbridge. Paddy Woodgate got the last three score of the game ensuring that the Raheens tally got into double digits.
A convincing win for Celbridge in the end by 3-21 to 0-11.

CELBRIDGE: Shane McNamara, John Clarke 0-1, Hugh McGrillen, Mick O’Grady, Kevin Flynn 0-2, Mick Konstantin 0-1, Liam O’Flynn 0-2, Fergal Conway 2-3, Tony Archbold 0-1, Conor Plunkett, Johnny Owens, Dean O’Donoghue 0-2, Davy Hughes 0-7 (5 frees), Kevin O’Callaghan, Paddy Brophy (1-2). Subs: Peter McAteer for Conor Plunkett (41 mins), Niall Donnelly for Paddy Brophy (41 mins).

RAHEENS: Declan Campbell, Shane Crowley, Jason Earley, Adam Malone, Fionn Tully, Colin Ryan, Graham Waters, Killian Thompson, Dara Crowley, Niall Dolan, David Fitzpatrick, David Malone, Paddy Woodgate 0-8 (4 frees), Liam Power 0-2 (2 marks), Jack Taaffee 0-1, Subs: Paul Dolan for Jason Earley (35 mins), Sean McLoughlin for David Malone (46 mins), Colin Malone for Liam Power (46 mins), Shane McSweeney for Colin Ryan (50 mins).

REFEREE: Matthew Redmond.